School blog

Freedom of speech

Weeks after the Charlie Hebdo shooting Pope Francis responded with a statement on the Guardian stating that people need to draw a stronger line between what is considered freedom of speech and what is considered hate speech.

Farhang Jahanpour, an Iranian professor, and writer argue that without the right to speak our mind we wouldn’t live in a democratic society. However what Charlie Hebdo did was not only speak their mind but they depicted the Prophet Muhammad whom the Islamic banned on being depicted.

That’s not a political cartoon joke anymore but an attack on people’s beliefs. Because so many people believe in Muhammad and not depicting him, this cartoon is directly provoking the Islamic religion which should not be allowed. This is not hate speech but it is attacking these people’s feelings and believes consciously. Pope Francis sees it similarly, “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.”

There needs to be a stronger line between free speech and hate speech. People need be allowed to say whatever they want however if that opinion is attacking someone’s beliefs, values and faiths then it should not be presented publicly.